Means for and method of detecting the state of ink remain in a cartridge having containing portions differing in ink containing state

ABSTRACT

The present invention has as its object to detect the termination of ink reliably and highly accurately in an ink jet recording apparatus. An ink cartridge 2 has an opening 5 for connection to a recording head 1, and is comprised of a negative pressure generating member containing portion 14 containing a negative pressure generating member 13 and having an atmosphere communicating port 10, and an ink containing portion 16 which is adjacent to the negative pressure generating member containing portion 14 and communicates therewith at the bottom 11 of the ink cartridge. Ink detecting means 3 is provided below the ink containing portion 16. When the detecting means 3 detects a reduction in the remain in the ink containing portion 16, ink remains only in the negative pressure generating member containing portion 14 and the remainder can be substantially estimated. For the remaining ink, the amount of use is calculated by the counting of discharge pulses or the like and is compared, whereby the remain of the ink can be detected accurately and easily.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

This invention relates to an ink termination detecting device fordetecting ink termination in the ink storing container or the like of anink jet recording apparatus for discharging ink to thereby effectrecording, or a remain state detecting device for detecting the remainstate of ink. Particularly, this invention relates to an ink remainstate detecting device for and a method of detecting the remain state ofink contained in an ink storing container comprising a plurality ofcontaining members capable of containing ink which communicate indifferent states.

2. Related Background Art

In a so-called ink jet recording apparatus, ink is discharged from arecording head to thereby effect recording on a recording medium such asrecording paper.

An ink storing device such as an ink tank for storing therein ink to besupplied to the recording head is mounted on a predetermined fixedregion of the ink jet recording apparatus, or is carried on a carriagewith the recording head. In the former case, an ink supply path such asan ink tube is provided between the recording head and the storingdevice, and this is designed to follow the movement of the carriage.

In the latter case, the ink supply path provided between the recordinghead and the storing device can be made relatively short. Therefore, theconstruction in which the ink storing device is carried on the carriagecan be said to be a construction suitable for downsizing or simplifyingthe ink jet recording apparatus.

Among such constructions in which the recording head and the ink storingdevice (ink tank) are both carried on the carriage, there are aconstruction in which the recording head and the ink tank are formedintegrally with each other and a construction in which the recordinghead and the ink tank are separably carried. In the construction whereinthe recording head and the ink tank are formed integrally with eachother, a cartridge comprising the ink tank and the recording head madeintegral with each other is interchanged with a new one at a point oftime whereat the ink in the ink tank has become exhausted and therefore,this construction is easy to handle and thus has been spreading inrecent years, but the expensive head is interchanged each time the inkbecomes exhausted and this leads to the rise of running cost.

Also, in the construction wherein the recording head and the ink tankare separably carried, the ink tank alone can be interchanged when theink becomes exhausted, and the head itself can also be interchanged atthe end of its life. In ordinary use, generally it is impossible thatthe head becomes unusable due to its life before the ink in the ink tankis used up. Therefore, the ink tank alone is interchanged when the inkbecomes exhausted and thus, running cost can be suppressed. However, itis necessary to make the connecting portion between the ink tank and therecording head elaborately so that the ink may not leak.

In any of the various ink jet recording apparatuses as described above,it is desirable to provide a construction for accurately knowing theamount of ink remaining in the ink storing means, in order to effect theinterchange of the ink storing means at an appropriate time.

When the ink in the ink storing means becomes exhausted duringrecording, the discharge means of the recording head continues to createenergy for discharge in the absence of the ink. Particularly, in an inkjet recording apparatus of the recently known thermal jet type in whichheat energy is imparted to ink by heat energy generating means and thepressure by a change in the state of the ink is utilized to dischargethe ink, a heater for discharge as the heat energy generating means isdriven in the absence of the ink and therefore, not only the temperatureof the recording head rises but also the recording head itself isdamaged. Accordingly, the aforedescribed construction for knowing theremain state of ink can be said to be indispensable.

In recent years, there has come to be known a technique of making thevolume of ink which can be contained in the ink storing means large tothereby reduce the frequency of interchange of the ink storing means. Bysuch a technique, not only running cost can be reduced, but also thefrequency of the manipulation cumbersome to the user can be decreased.

A technique of making the volume of ink in ink storing means large isproposed in U.S. Application Ser. No. 08/094,313. According to thisapplication, use is made of an ink storing container in which a negativepressure generating member containing portion and an ink containingportion for containing ink are separated, whereby substantially all ofink except ink adhering to the wall surface in the ink containingportion can be used and the large volume of the ink contained in the inkstoring container is achieved. Also, the leakage of the ink from arecording head can be prevented by the negative pressure generatingmember contained in the ink storing container and a stable ink supplyingperformance can be maintained for a long period.

Ink termination detecting devices for detecting the termination of inkin the ink storing container or the like of an ink jet recordingapparatus include one using an optical element as disclosed in JapaneseLaid-Open Patent Application No. 54-133373, one which detects by theconduction of an electrode member as disclosed in Japanese PatentPublication No. 1-17465, one which counts discharge pulse number asdisclosed in Japanese Laid-Open Patent Application No. 59-194853, etc..

However, it has been difficult for the above-mentioned ink terminationdetecting devices (ink remain state detecting devices) according to theprior art to accurately detect the remain state of ink in theaforedescribed ink storing container wherein the negative pressuregenerating member containing portion and the ink containing portion areseparated.

For example, among the above-mentioned devices according to the priorart, it has been difficult due to the structure of the ink storingcontainer for one using an optical element and one which detects by theconduction of an electrode member to detect the exhaustion of the ink inthe negative pressure generating member containing portion, and even ifthe remain state of the ink only in the ink containing portion isdetected, ink may still remain in the negative pressure generatingmember containing portion, and this device could only be applied to thewarning of the fact that the ink has decreased to some extent. Also, ithas become difficult with the larger volume of ink for the device whichcounts discharge pulse number to detect the remain of ink accurately.Further, an attempt to effect the detection accurately has led to veryhigh costs, and the amount of ink used differs depending on theirregularity of the initial amount of supply and the environment of use,and this has led to a problem that accurate detection cannot beaccomplished.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention has been made in view of the above-noted problemsand an object thereof is to accurately detect the remain state of ink inan ink cartridge having a plurality of ink containing chambers differingin the ink containing state from each other and communicated with eachother by a gap portion.

Another object of the present invention is to enable the above-describedink cartridge to be used until immediately before ink becomes exhausted.

To achieve the above objects, the ink jet recording apparatus of thepresent invention is provided with an ink jet head for discharging ink,and an ink cartridge for supplying the ink to said ink jet head, saidink cartridge having a first ink containing chamber containing anegative pressure generating member and provided with a communicatingportion for supplying the ink to said ink jet head, and a second inkcontaining chamber directly containing the ink to be supplied to saidfirst ink containing chamber, and is characterized by first detectingmeans for detecting the remain state of the ink in said second inkcontaining chamber, ink used amount calculating means for calculatingthe amount of ink used from said ink cartridge, and control means forstarting the calculation by said ink used amount calculating means whensaid first detecting means detects that the remain of the ink in saidsecond ink containing chamber has become smaller than a predeterminedamount.

Also, the present invention is an ink remain state detecting method inan ink jet recording apparatus provided with an ink jet head fordischarging ink, and an ink cartridge for supplying the ink to said inkjet head, said ink cartridge having a first ink containing chambercontaining a negative pressure generating member and provided with acommunicating portion for supplying the ink to said ink jet head, and asecond ink containing chamber directly containing the ink to be suppliedto said first ink containing chamber, and is characterized by thedetecting step of detecting the remain state of the ink in said secondink containing chamber, and the used ink amount calculating step ofcalculating the amount of ink used from said ink cartridge when it isdetected by said detecting step that the remain of the ink in saidsecond ink containing chamber has become smaller than a predeterminedamount.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 shows a state in which an ink jet recording head and aninterchangeable type ink cartridge used in the present invention and inkdetecting means are fitted together.

FIG. 2 shows the positional relationship between an interchangeable typeink cartridge according to a first embodiment of the present inventionand the ink detecting means.

FIGS. 3 to 5 and FIG. 7 are flow charts showing the detection of theremain state of ink in the embodiment.

FIG. 6 shows a state in which an ink remain state detecting deviceaccording to the embodiment is assembled.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Some embodiments of the present invention will hereinafter be describedin detail with reference to the drawings.

(First Embodiment)

FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view of an ink storing container as anembodiment of the present invention having a negative pressuregenerating member containing portion and an ink containing portion as itis seen from a side thereof, and the ink storing container is designedsuch that the remain state of ink therein can be accurately detected. Asponge-like porous material is suitably used as the negative pressuregenerating member.

FIG. 2 shows the positional relationship between an ink cartridge 2 andink detecting means 3 in FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a flow chart showing the operation of an ink remain statedetecting device.

In FIG. 2, the interchangeable type ink cartridge 2 and an ink jetrecording head 1 for discharging ink by the ink jet system to therebyeffect recording are separably constructed.

In FIG. 1, a joint member 7 for supplying the ink to the recording head1 is inserted in the ink cartridge 2 and is urged against a negativepressure generating member 13 and the ink jet recording apparatus is inits operable state.

The interchangeable type ink cartridge 2 has a gap portion 5 forconnection to the ink jet recording head 1, and is comprised of anegative pressure generating member containing portion 14 containing anegative pressure generating member 13 (specifically, a porous materialsuch as sponge) and having an atmosphere communicating port 10, and anink containing portion 16 containing ink 9 which is adjacent to thenegative pressure generating member containing portion 14 with apartition wall 15 interposed therebetween and communicates with thenegative pressure generating member containing portion 14 at the bottom11 of the ink cartridge. A filter may desirably be installed on the endportion of the joint member 7 to eliminate dust in the ink cartridge 2.

When the ink jet recording apparatus is operated, the ink is dischargedfrom the nozzle of the ink jet recording head 1, whereby an ink suckingforce is created to the ink cartridge 2 and the ink in the negativepressure generating member 13 is consumed.

The operation of the ink jet recording apparatus is controlled by acontrol unit 101 which performs various functions such as counting thenumber of ink discharge pulses, calculating the amount of used ink,effecting recovery processing, and detecting whether the remainingamount of ink is less than a predetermined amount, as described in moredetail below.

As regards the ink cartridge 2, an atmosphere introducing groove 31 anda negative pressure generating member regulating chamber 32 are formedin portions of the partition wall 15 between the ink containing portion16 and the negative pressure generating member containing portion 14.The atmosphere introducing groove 31 is formed in the negative pressuregenerating member containing portion 14 side from the intermediateportion of the partition wall 15 to the end portion of the partitionwall 15, i.e., the gap portion 8 with the bottom 11 of the inkcartridge. The negative pressure generating member regulating chamber 32of a scraped-out shape is formed between the partition wall 15 and thenegative pressure generating member 13 in contact with the vicinity ofthe atmosphere introducing groove 31 of the partition wall 15.

When the ink in the negative pressure generating member containingportion 14 is consumed, the interface between the atmosphere and liquid(air-liquid interface) in the negative pressure generating membercontaining portion 14 lowers and the atmosphere is introduced into theink containing portion 16 and thus, the ink is supplied into thenegative pressure generating member containing portion 14. So-calledair-liquid exchange takes place.

The negative pressure in the negative pressure generating membercontaining portion 14 is regulated by the meniscus position on theaforementioned air-liquid interface and the supply of the ink can bedone without the ink leaking from the recording head.

The negative pressure generating member 13 is brought into contact withthe inner surface of the negative pressure generating member containingportion 14 and therefore, even if for example, the negative pressuregenerating member 13 is non-uniformly inserted, the contact(compression) force of the negative pressure generating member 13 willbe partially alleviated. Therefore, when the ink begins to be consumedfrom the recording head, the ink impregnating the negative pressuregenerating member 13 is consumed and reaches the negative pressuregenerating member regulating chamber 32. When the ink continues to beconsumed still thereafter, the atmosphere becomes ready to break the inkmeniscus from the portion in which the contact force of the negativepressure generating member 13 is alleviated by the negative pressuregenerating member regulating chamber 32, and the atmosphere is rapidlyintroduced into the atmosphere introducing groove 31 and thus, thecontrol of the negative pressure becomes easy.

The partition wall 15 and negative pressure generating member regulatingchamber 32, including other construction functionally equal to these,are generically referred to as air-liquid exchange expediting structure.In an ink cartridge having this air-liquid exchange expeditingstructure, the optimum ink liquid level area can be obtained byregulating the height of the top of the air-liquid exchange expeditingstructure disposed on the side wall surface of the negative pressuregenerating member containing chamber 14 above the communicating portionbetween the negative pressure generating member containing portion 14and the ink containing portion 16.

As means for controlling the optimum ink liquid level area, there is amethod of changing the direction of compression and the rate ofcompression of the negative pressure generating member as previouslydescribed, but the regulation of the top position of the air-liquidexchange expediting structure can achieve the purpose more reliably andwith better reproducibility. Of course, by combining these methods, theink liquid level may be rendered into the above-described optimum area.

Substantially all of the ink except the ink adhering to the wall surfacein the ink containing portion 16 is used by the ink cartridge 2 of theconstruction as described above.

FIG. 2 is a schematic view showing the structure for detecting a statein which the ink remain in the ink containing portion 16 of the inkcartridge 2 has been reduced.

At the bottom of the ink cartridge 2, a light emitting element 21 and alight receiving element 22 as ink detecting means 3 in the inkcontaining portion 16 are disposed in opposed relationship with eachother relative to the transparent ink containing portion 16. When theink containing portion 16 is filled with the ink 9, the optical path isintercepted by the ink 9, more accurately, by the dye or pigment in theink 9, and the output of the light receiving element 22 is not put out,but when the ink 9 decreases, the output of the light receiving element22 is put out, whereby the decrease in the remain of the ink in the inkcontaining portion is detected, and preferably, the termination of theink is detected when the ink in the ink containing portion 16 has becomeexhausted.

The whole of the ink containing portion 16 need not be transparent, butonly the portion thereof through which light is transmitted by the lightemitting element 21 and light receiving element 22 may be formed by atransparent member.

FIG. 3 is a flow chart showing the process of detection of the remainstate of the ink in the first embodiment.

In the construction of the ink cartridge shown in FIG. 1, as previouslydescribed, the ink is supplied from the ink containing portion 16 by theair-liquid exchange each time the ink in the negative pressuregenerating member containing portion 14 is consumed to a certain degree.Thus, at a point of time whereat the ink in the ink containing portion16 has been almost consumed, a certain degree of ink remains in thenegative pressure generating member containing portion 14. In thepresent embodiment, the decrease in the ink is detected until a point oftime at which the remain of the ink in the ink containing portion 16 hasbecome substantially null, and continuedly the detection of the remainstate is effected for the ink remaining in the negative pressuregenerating member containing portion 14, and detecting methods suitablefor the different ink containing portions 14 and 16 are applied.

In FIG. 3, the initial setting operation is first performed at a stepS12. Here, it is to be understood that the resetting of a timer T1 whichwill be described later is effected. Subsequently, at a step S13,whether it has been detected that the ink has decreased below apredetermined amount is judged.

If at the step S13, it is detected from the detection level that the inkremain has become null, whether the timer T1 has been time up is judgedat the next step S14, and when a reduction in the ink remain is detectedat a point of time whereat the timer T1 has been time up, it is judgedthat the ink remain has actually been reduced. This is because when theink is consumed and its remain reaches the vicinity of the detectionlevel, the ink sways in the ink containing portion 16 due to themovement of the carriage on which the ink cartridge is mounted and theoutput of the light receiving element 22 repeats ON and OFF, and thus,the time when the sway of the ink ceases is set by the timer T1 andaccurate detection of the remain is effected.

When the ink in the ink containing portion 16 has become exhausted, theamount of ink remaining in the negative pressure generating membercontaining portion 14 can be substantially estimated and therefore, atthe next step S15, whether a predetermined amount of ink has been usedis judged, and recording is effected until immediately before the ink inthe ink cartridge becomes exhausted.

As recorded amount detecting means for detecting a value conforming to arecorded amount in case of recording, the discharge pulse number iscounted and it is multiplied by the predetermined discharge amount ofthe ink jet recording head 1 per pulse, for example, 80 to 90 ng in thecase of monochrome of 360 dpi, to thereby calculate the amount of usedink, and this amount of used ink is compared with the set value of arecord amount printable with the ink preset in the negative pressuregenerating member containing portion 14 (for example, the amount ofusable ink such as 20 g), and when the amount of used ink becomes equalto the set value of the record amount, the printing by the ink jetrecording apparatus is finally stopped. The record amount printable withthe ink in the negative pressure generating member containing portion 14differs depending on the volume of the negative pressure generatingmember containing portion 14, but generally it is 10 to 20 sheets, andin the case of an interchangeable type ink cartridge of a predeterminedvolume, irregularity is very small and accurate detection of the remainstate of the ink is possible, and the ink cartridge can be used untilimmediately before the ink becomes exhausted.

Here, the discharge amount per pulse is fixed as the value of 80 to 90ng, but by the discharge amount per pulse being corrected by thecumulative value of the discharge pulse number during the detection ofthe termination of the ink and the foreseen amount of used ink till thedetection of the preset termination of the ink, more accurate detectionof the termination of the ink is possible.

Also, the amount of ink consumed in a recovery process such as suckingand preliminary discharge carried out at the start of recording andduring recording is added to the aforedescribed amount of used inkobtained by counting the pulses to detect the remain state, whereby moreaccurate detection can be effected.

By the above-described construction, the detection of the remain stateof the ink can be accurately effected in an ink cartridge having aplurality of containing portions differing in the ink containing state,such as an ink containing portion and a negative pressure generatingmember containing portion, and the ink cartridge can be used untilimmediately before the ink becomes exhausted.

(Second Embodiment)

In the ink jet recording apparatus, when for example, printing has notbeen effected for a long period in order to prevent the non-discharge ofink, recovery processes from clogging are effected. During that process,about 0.1 g of ink is consumed per process. So, in the presentembodiment, a value obtained by multiplying the number of recoveryprocesses from clogging by a present amount of ink used per recoveryprocess is added to the calculation in the detection of the remain stateof the ink in the negative pressure generating member containing portion14 after the exhaustion of the ink in the ink containing portion 16 bythe aforedescribed first embodiment. Thereby, more accurate detectionbecomes possible because the estimated value by the calculation is basedon the real amount of use.

(Third Embodiment)

In the aforedescribed embodiment, calculating means concerned in thenumber of recovery processes is necessary, but the number of recoveryprocesses after the exhaustion of the ink in the ink containing portion16 is detected by the ink detecting means 3 is several times at greatestand therefore, even if the calculating means is not especially provided,for example, clogging is affected by the period for which the apparatushas been left without printing and therefore, whether the period forwhich the apparatus has been left without printing is e.g. one week orone month may be judged by a timer contained in the apparatus, and ifsaid period is one week or longer, a preset value may only be added.

By this construction, the process in the calculation of the amount ofused ink in the negative pressure generating member containing portion14 can be simplified and the error in the calculation of the amount ofused ink is small and therefore, the ink cartridge can be used untilimmediately before the ink therein becomes exhausted and thus, the wasteof the ink can be made small.

(Fourth Embodiment)

FIG. 4 is a flow chart showing the characteristic construction of afourth embodiment of the present invention.

The fourth embodiment is characterized by the provision of aconstruction for warning the user of a reduction in ink remain at a stepS25 after it is detected that in ink remain in the ink containingportion 16 shown in the first embodiment has been reduced (preferablyhas become exhausted).

When it is detected that the ink remain in the ink containing portion 16has been reduced, the amount recordable with the remaining ink islimited and the user is warned of it (step S25), whereby the user canrecognize the reduction in the amount of ink in the cartridge and can beprepared for providing a fresh ink cartridge.

Also, when a great amount of recording is to be effected, the user caninterchange the ink cartridge in advance so that the supply of ink maynot be interrupted in the course of recording, and the user's attentioncan be called to the interchanging process in conformity with the user'snecessity.

Also, the warning in the present embodiment may be an aurallyrecognizable sound such as an alarm, or a visually recognizable alarm asby a lamp or indicating means.

(Fifth Embodiment)

FIG. 5 is a flow chart for illustrating a fifth embodiment of thepresent invention.

In the aforedescribed first embodiment, design is made such that asshown at the step S16 of FIG. 3, the printer is stopped when the inkremain in the ink cartridge becomes a predetermined amount or less(preferably when the termination of the use of the ink cartridge isdetected, with the detection level being defined as the time when theink has become substantially exhausted).

However, the calculation for judging the amount of used ink at the stepS15 is a calculation substantially effected during printing andtherefore, when during printing, the ink reaches a predetermined amountof use, printing is stopped on the spot. It is not preferable thatprinting is suddenly stopped during printing.

For this reason, the present embodiment is characterized in that whetherthe printing of a page being printed has been completed is judged at astep S37 shown in FIG. 5, whereby the printer is stopped after theprinting of the page being printed is completed. Design can be made suchthat setting is made so that an amount of ink capable of printing atleast one page may remain in the negative pressure generating membercontaining portion 14 even after a reduction in the ink remain in theink containing portion 16 is detected and thereafter a predeterminedamount of ink is used, whereby the printer is not stopped during theprinting of the page, but is stopped at a point of time whereat theprinting of the page being printed has been completed.

A construction in which warning is effected at a point of time whereat apredetermined amount of ink has been used, and the remainder of the pagebeing printed is printed, and a construction in which warning iseffected at a point of time whereat the printer has been stopped arealso preferably applied to the present embodiment.

(Sixth Embodiment)

FIG. 6 is a schematic cross-sectional view of an ink cartridge forillustrating a sixth embodiment of the present invention.

In the first embodiment, there is adopted a construction in which thelight emitting element 21 and light receiving element 22 are used as themeans for detecting any reduction in the ink remain in the inkcontaining portion 16 and the optical interception by the ink isdetected.

The present embodiment is characterized in that a pair of electrodemembers are provided as the means for detecting any reduction in the inkremain in the ink containing portion 16.

As shown in FIG. 6, a pair of electrode members 17 are provided near thebottom of the ink containing portion 16 so as to contact with the inkuntil the ink is almost used up. It is detected by the pair of electrodemembers 17 that the conduction between these electrode members 17 hasbecome null, whereby a reduction in the ink remain in the ink containingportion 16 is detected.

In the present embodiment, it is not necessary to design the inkcartridge such that as in the first embodiment, the light projected bythe light emitting element is transmitted to effect optical detection.

Also, each of the aforedescribed embodiment can be applied to thecontrol after a reduction in the ink remain in the ink containingportion 16 is detected.

(Seventh Embodiment)

In the aforedescribed embodiments, as shown in FIGS. 3 and 5, the timerT1 or the calculation of the amount of used ink is reset each time it isdetected that a predetermined or greater amount of ink remains in theink containing portion 16.

However, in the above-described construction, when the ink cartridge 2is removed and is again mounted with the ink in the ink containingportion 16 exhausted and with the ink remaining only in the negativepressure generating member containing portion 14, it is detected thatthe ink in the ink containing portion 16 has again become exhausted andthus, the calculation of the amount of used ink is started again, andthere occurs an error to the calculation of the amount of used ink.

For this reason, in the present embodiment, as shown in FIG. 7, it isdetected that a predetermined or greater amount of ink remains in theink containing portion 16 shown in FIG. 1 (step S41), whereafter at astep S43, whether a fresh ink cartridge has been mounted or whether anink cartridge used to some extent and having ink remaining only in thenegative pressure generating member containing portion 14 has beenmounted is judged. Specifically, by examining whether the set time T2from after it is detected that the ink remains in the ink containingportion 16 until it is detected that the ink has become exhausted is up(step S43), whether the mounted ink cartridge is a fresh one can bejudged. Accordingly, even when a cartridge with the ink remain in theink containing portion 16 reduced is mounted again, the timer and thecounter for calculating the amount of used ink are not reset, but thecalculation of the amount of used ink can be continuedly executed andthus, the detection of accurate ink remain is possible.

The present invention brings about an excellent effect in recordingapparatuses of the ink jet recording type, particularly a recordingapparatus using a recording head of the ink jet type in which heatenergy is utilized to form flying liquid drops to thereby effectrecording.

As regards their typical construction and principles, apparatuses arepreferable which effect recording by the use of the principlesdisclosed, for example, in U.S. Pat. No. 4,723,129 and U.S. Pat. No.4,740,796. This system is applicable to both of the so-called on-demandtype and continuous type, and particularly, in the case of the on-demandtype, it is effective because at least one driving signal correspondingto recording information and providing a rapid temperature riseexceeding nuclear boiling is applied to an electro-thermal conversionelement disposed correspondingly to a sheet or a liquid path in whichliquid (ink) is retained, whereby heat energy is generated in theelectro-thermal conversion element to create film boiling in the heatacting surface of a recording head, with a result that a bubble in theliquid (ink) corresponding at one to one to this driving signal can beformed. By the growth and contraction of this bubble, the liquid (ink)is discharged through a discharge opening to thereby form at least onedrop. When this driving signal is made into a pulse shape, the growthand contraction of the bubble take place appropriately on the spot andtherefore, the discharge of the liquid (ink) which is particularlyexcellent in responsiveness can be accomplished, and this is morepreferable. This driving signal of a pulse shape may suitably be one asdescribed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,463,359 or U.S. Pat. No. 4,345,262. Theaddition of the conditions described in U.S. Pat. No. 4,313,124disclosing an invention relating to the temperature rise rate of saidheat acting surface would enable more excellent recording to beaccomplished.

As the construction of the recording head, besides a combinedconstruction of a discharge port, a liquid path and an electro-thermalconversion element as disclosed in the above-mentioned patents (astraight liquid flow path or a right-angled liquid flow path), aconstruction using U.S. Pat. No. 4,558,333 and U.S. Pat. No. 4,459,600which disclose a construction in which a heat acting portion is disposedin a bent area is also covered by the present invention. In addition,the present invention will also be effective if use is made of aconstruction based on Japanese Laid-Open Patent Application No.59-123670 which discloses a construction in which a slit common to aplurality of electro-thermal conversion elements is the dischargeportion of the electro-thermal conversion elements or Japanese Laid-OpenPatent Application No. 59-138461 which discloses a construction in whichan opening for absorbing the pressure wave of heat energy is made tocorrespond to the discharge portion. That is, according to the presentinvention, whatever may be the form of the recording head, recording canbe effected reliably and efficiently.

Further, the present invention can also be effectively applied to arecording head of the full line type having a length corresponding tothe maximum width of recording medium on which a recording apparatus canrecord. Such a recording head may be of any of a construction whichsatisfies the length by a combination of a plurality of recording headsand a construction as a single recording head formed as a unit.

In addition, the present invention is also effective when use is made ofthe recording head of the serial type as described above, or a recordinghead of the interchangeable chip type which can be electricallyconnected to an apparatus body or can be supplied with ink from theapparatus body by being mounted on the apparatus body, or a recordinghead of the cartridge type in which an ink tank is provided integrallywith the recording head itself.

Also, the addition of discharge recovery means 102 for the recordinghead, preliminary auxiliary means, etc. as the construction of therecording apparatus of the present invention could more stabilize theeffect of the present invention, and this is preferable. Specifically,as these means, mention may be made of capping means for the recordinghead, cleaning means, pressing or sucking means, preheating means foreffecting heating by the use of an electro-thermal conversion element ora heating element discrete therefrom or a combination of these, andpreliminary discharge means for effecting discharge discrete fromrecording.

Also, the kind or number of recording heads carried may be two or morecorrespondingly to a plurality of inks differing in recording color ordensity. That is, for example, the recording mode of the recordingapparatus is not limited to the recording mode of only main color suchas black, but the recording head may be constructed as a unit or may beprovided by a combination of a plurality of heads, and the present isalso very effective for an apparatus provided with at least one of therecording mode of different colors and the recording mode of full colorby a mixture of colors.

Furthermore, in the above-described embodiments of the presentinvention, the ink has been described as liquid, but use may also bemade of ink which solidifies at room temperature or below and softens orliquefies at room temperature, or since in the ink jet system, it isusual to control the temperature of ink itself within a range from 30°C. to 70° C. so that the viscosity of the ink may be within a stabledischarge range, use may be made of ink which assumes liquid phase whena recording signal used is applied. In addition, ink which solidifieswhen left as it is and which liquefies by heating may be used topositively prevent the temperature rise by heat energy or prevent theevaporation of the ink by using such temperature rise as the energy forthe stage change from the solid state to the liquid state of the ink. Inany case, the present invention is also applicable to a case where useis made of ink having the nature that it is liquefied for the first timeby the imparting of heat energy, such as ink which is liquefied by theimparting of heat energy conforming to a recording signal and isdischarged as liquid phase ink, or ink which already begins to solidifyat a point of time whereat it reaches a recording medium. The ink insuch a case may assume a form which will be opposed to an electrothermalconversion element while being retained as liquid or solid in a recessor through-hole in a porous sheet, as described in Japanese Laid-OpenPatent Application No. 54-56847 or Japanese Laid-Open Patent ApplicationNo. 60-71260. In the present invention, what is most effective for theabove-described inks is what executes the above-described film boiling.

In addition, the form of the ink jet recording apparatus of the presentinvention may be, besides one used as the image output terminal of aninformation processing instrument such as a computer, the form of acopying apparatus combined with a reader or the like, or the form of afacsimile apparatus having the signal transmitting and receivingfunction.

As described above in detail, in the detection of the remain state in anink cartridge having a plurality of ink containing chambers differing inthe ink containing state from each other and communicated with eachother by a gap portion, the remain state is first detected by a remaindetecting method suitable for the ink containing state of the inkcontaining chamber in which ink is consumed earlier, and when the ink insaid ink containing chamber is consumed, the remain state in the inkcartridge is detected by a remain detecting method suitable for the inkcontaining chamber in which ink is consumed lastly.

More particularly, in the ink containing chamber in which ink remainslastly, there is contained a negative pressure generating member forsupplying the ink to the head. Accordingly, the remain state of the inkcan be accurately detected by calculating the amount of ink used fromthe ink cartridge.

With such construction, even when a cartridge comprising a plurality ofink containing chambers is used, the ink cartridge can be used untilimmediately before the ink becomes exhausted, and the accurate remainstate of the ink can be detected and therefore, it will never happenthat the recording operation is performed by mistake with the inkexhausted and the head is damaged.

Also, a warning operation is performed to the user at a point of timewhereat the ink in the first-mentioned ink containing chamber has becomeexhausted, whereby the user can be informed in advance of the fact thatthe remain of the ink has become small, and the user's attention can becalled to the interchange of the ink cartridge before the ink thereinbecomes exhausted.

Also, recording is not stopped during recording, but recording isstopped at a point of time whereat the recording on a page being printedhas been completed, whereby the waste of the recording paper beingprinted can be prevented.

Also, when an ink cartridge used to some extent is once removed and isagain mounted by the user, whether the ink cartridge is one in which theremain of the ink in the earlier consumed ink containing chamber hasalready become null is judged, whereby the count value or the like foreffecting the calculation of the amount of used ink can be controlled bythe resetting operation and thus, a wrong detecting operation can beprevented.

What is claimed is:
 1. An ink jet recording apparatus provided with anink containing member having a plurality of ink containing portionsdiffering in ink containing state from each other and communicated witheach other by a gap portion, and an ink jet head for discharging inksupplied by being communicated with one end of said plurality of inkcontaining portion, said apparatus comprising:first detecting means fordetecting an ink remain in one of said plurality of ink containingportions other than the ink containing portion for supplying the ink tosaid ink jet head and for detecting any reduction in the ink remain insaid one ink containing portion; second detecting means for detecting anink remain in said ink containing member and for detecting the reducedstate of the ink remain in the ink containing portion communicating withsaid ink jet head; and control means for starting the detection by saidsecond detecting means when said first detecting means detects that theremain of the ink has become smaller than a predetermined amount.
 2. Amethod of detecting an ink remain of an ink containing member in an inkjet recording apparatus provided with an ink containing member having aplurality of ink containing portions differing in ink containing statefrom each other and communicated with each other by a gap portion, andan ink jet head for discharging ink supplied by being communicated withone end of said plurality of ink containing portions, said methodcomprising the steps of:detecting a first ink remain in one of saidplurality of ink containing portions other than the ink containingportion for supplying the ink to said ink jet head and detecting anyreduction in the ink remain in said one ink containing portion; anddetecting a second ink remain in the ink containing member and detectingthe reduced remain of the ink in the ink containing portioncommunicating with said ink jet head when said step of detecting thefirst ink remain detects that the remain of the ink has become smallerthan a predetermined amount.
 3. An ink jet recording apparatus providedwith an ink jet head for discharging ink, and an ink cartridge forsupplying the ink to said ink jet head, said ink cartridge having afirst ink containing chamber containing a negative pressure generatingmember therein and provided with a communicating portion for supplyingthe ink to said ink jet head, and a second ink containing chamberdirectly containing therein the ink to be supplied to said first inkcontaining chamber, said apparatus comprising:first detecting means fordetecting the remain of the ink in said second ink containing chamber;used ink amount calculating means for calculating the amount of ink usedfrom said ink cartridge; and control means for starting the calculationby said used ink amount calculating means when said first detectingmeans detects that the remain of the ink in said second ink containingchamber has become smaller than a predetermined amount.
 4. An ink jetrecording apparatus according to claim 3, wherein said used ink amountcalculating means calculates the amount of used ink by the number of inkdrops discharged from said ink jet head.
 5. An ink jet recordingapparatus according to claim 3, further comprising recovery means forrecovering an ink discharging state of said ink jet head and whereinsaid used ink amount calculating means calculates the amount of used inkby the amount of ink discharged from said ink jet head and the amount ofink used by said recovery means.
 6. An ink jet recording apparatusaccording to claim 5, wherein said recovery means causes the ink to bedischarged from said ink jet head to thereby recover the ink dischargingstate.
 7. An ink jet recording apparatus according to claim 5, whereinsaid recovery means further comprises means for sucking and dischargingthe ink from said ink jet head to thereby recover the ink dischargingstate.
 8. An ink jet recording apparatus according to claim 5, whereinsaid recovery means further comprises means for pressing and dischargingthe ink from said ink jet head to thereby recover the ink dischargingstate.
 9. An ink jet recording apparatus according to claim 3, furthercomprising stopping means for stopping the recording by said ink jetrecording apparatus when the amount of used ink calculated by said usedink amount calculating means reaches a predetermined amount.
 10. An inkjet recording apparatus according to claim 3, further comprisingstopping means for stopping the recording by said ink jet recordingapparatus and wherein said control means effects the recording of a pageduring said recording when the amount of used ink calculated by saidused ink amount calculating means reaches a predetermined amount,whereafter said control means stops the recording by said stoppingmeans.
 11. An ink jet recording apparatus according to claim 3, furthercomprising warning means for warning a user of a reduction in inkremain.
 12. An ink jet recording apparatus according to claim 11,wherein said control means controls said warning means to warn the userwhen said first detecting means detects that the remain of the ink insaid second ink containing chamber has become smaller than apredetermined amount.
 13. An ink jet recording apparatus according toclaim 3, wherein said ink cartridge is removably mounted on said ink jetrecording apparatus.
 14. An ink jet recording apparatus according toclaim 13, wherein said first detecting means detects whether the remainof the ink in said second ink containing chamber is smaller than apredetermined amount to thereby detect an ink remain status of said inkcartridge.
 15. An ink jet recording apparatus according to claim 3,wherein said ink cartridge is constructed integrally with said ink jethead and is removably mounted on said ink jet recording apparatus. 16.An ink jet recording apparatus according to claim 15, wherein said firstdetecting means detects whether the remain of the ink in said second inkcontaining chamber is smaller than a predetermined amount to therebydetect an ink remain status of said ink cartridge.
 17. An ink jetrecording apparatus according to claim 3, wherein said ink jet head isprovided with heat energy generating means for giving heat energy to theink, and creates a state change by heating the ink by said heat energyto thereby discharge the ink.
 18. An ink remain detecting device for anink jet recording apparatus provided with an ink jet head fordischarging ink and an ink cartridge for supplying the ink to the inkjet head, said ink cartridge having a first ink containing chambercontaining a negative pressure generating portion therein and providedwith a communicating portion for supplying the ink to the ink jet headand a second ink containing chamber directly containing therein the inkto be supplied to said first ink containing chamber, said ink remaindetecting device comprising:first detecting means for detecting a remainof the ink in said second ink containing chamber; used ink amountcalculating means for calculating the amount of ink used from said inkcartridge; and control means for starting the calculation by said usedink amount calculating means when said first detecting means detectsthat the remain of the ink in said second ink containing chamber hasbecome smaller than a predetermined amount.
 19. An ink remain detectingmethod for use in an ink jet recording apparatus provided with an inkjet head for discharging ink and an ink cartridge for supplying the inkto the ink jet head, said ink cartridge having a first ink containingchamber containing a negative pressure generating member therein andprovided with a communicating portion for supplying the ink to said inkjet head and a second ink containing chamber directly containing thereinthe ink to be supplied to said first ink containing chamber, said methodcomprising the steps of:detecting the remain of the ink in said secondink containing chamber; and calculating the amount of ink used from saidink cartridge when said detecting step detects that the remain of theink in said second ink containing chamber has become smaller than apredetermined amount.
 20. An ink remain detecting method according toclaim 19, wherein said used ink amount calculating step calculates theamount of used ink according to a number of ink drops discharged fromsaid ink jet head.
 21. An ink remain detecting method according to claim19, further comprising a step of recovering an ink discharging state ofsaid ink jet head, and wherein said used ink amount calculating stepcalculates the amount of used ink by the amount of ink discharged fromsaid ink jet head and the amount of ink used in said recovering step.22. An ink remain detecting method according to claim 21, wherein saidrecovering step further comprises causing the ink to be discharged fromsaid ink jet head to thereby recover the ink discharging state.
 23. Anink remain detecting method according to claim 21, wherein saidrecovering step further comprises sucking and discharging the ink fromsaid ink jet head to thereby recover the ink discharging state.
 24. Anink remain detecting method according to claim 21, wherein saidrecovering step further comprises pressing and discharging the ink fromsaid ink jet head to thereby recover the ink discharging state.
 25. Anink remain detecting method according to claim 19, further comprising astep of stopping recording when the amount of used ink calculated bysaid used ink amount calculating step reaches a predetermined amount.26. An ink remain detecting method according to claim 19, furthercomprising a step of effecting the recording of a page when during saidrecording the amount of used ink calculated by said used ink amountcalculating step reaches a predetermined amount, and a step ofthereafter stopping the recording.
 27. An ink remain detecting methodaccording to claim 19, further comprising a step of warning a user whenit is detected in said detecting step that the remain of the ink in saidsecond ink containing chamber has become smaller than a predeterminedamount.
 28. An ink remain detecting method according to claim 19,wherein said ink cartridge is removably mounted on said ink jetrecording apparatus.
 29. An ink remain detecting method according toclaim 28, wherein said detecting step detects whether the remain of theink in said second ink containing chamber is smaller than apredetermined amount, thereby detecting an ink remain status of said inkcartridge.
 30. An ink remain detecting method according to claim 19,wherein said ink cartridge is constructed integrally with said ink jethead and is removably mounted on said ink jet recording apparatus. 31.An ink remain detecting method according to claim 30, wherein saiddetecting step detects whether the remain of the ink in said second inkcontaining chamber is smaller than a predetermined amount, therebydetecting an ink remain status of said ink cartridge.
 32. An ink remaindetecting method according to claim 19, wherein said ink jet head givesheat energy to the ink and creates a state change by heating the ink bysaid heat energy to thereby discharge the ink.